The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea in Romania, form the largest and best preserved of Europe s deltas.The Danube Delta is in fact a labyrinth, has numerous freshwater lakes interconnected by narrow channels featuring huge expanses of aquatic vegetation, large brackish lagoons separated from the sea by a sandbar. You loose yourself in groves of white willows or in mixed woods, formed of black poplars, trembling poplars, oaks, bushy ash, elms, and wild apple and pear trees. The immense surfaces of rushes, bulrushes and reeds make up and unforgettable décor.
Forest elements are best observed in Letea Forest where a series of bands occur along dunes up to 250 m long and 10 m wide. More than 1200 species of plants and trees, over 300 species of bird have been recorded, of which over 176 species breed, the most important being white pelican and Dalmatian pelican, swans, cormorants, egrets, spoonbills, widgeons. The delta is very important for fish, with 45 fresh water species present (sturgeon, trout, perch, pike, carp)and a remarkable alluvial feature constituting critical habitat for migratory birds and other animals.
It is the major remaining wetland on the flyway between central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean and Middle East and Africa. Also, the traditional fishing villages of the Danube Delta seem remnants of an ancestral world. The people from hereabouts make their living by fishing. If you find yourself here, you will be able to dine on spitted fish, fish broth, and pickled fish with garlic juice, fried fishcakes. Further more, the Danube Delta is also considered a civilisation nest offering visits to historic monasteries, vineyards dating back to the Roman Empire, or impressive Greek fortresses such as Histria or the Romanian Pompei, the first Greek colony on the west shore of the Black Sea and the oldest city on Romanian territory.
DAY 1- BUCHAREST - Little Paris
Welcome to Bucharest, Romania, South-East Europe, and get ready to discover a whole world in just one country. Our guide will pick you up from Henri Coanda International Airport, Bucharest, and take you to a downtown 4-star hotel. Driving through the city, you will understand why Bucharest used to be called Little Paris. Arrive at the hotel and check in. When you feel up for it, get together with the guide and go for a walking tour of the most delightful architectural landmarks of Bucharest: Romanian Athenaeum (1888), National Art Museum (1937), Kretzulescu Church (1722), Central University Library (1893), Palace of the National Military Circle (1923), University Square, National History Museum (1900), CEC Palace (1897). This one-hour walking tour ends with a well-deserved sampling of Romanian cuisine, well known for its diversity and heartiness. Our recommendation is the Beer Cart (Caru’cu bere), one of the most famous places to eat out in the "old city center", a restaurant situated in a wonderful building, an outstanding architectural piece in itself. The atmosphere of this old beer hall makes for a fine introduction to the traditional Romanian experience. By now, you will have already had a taste of the city’s lifestyle. Next, you are going to explore it even further as we take a nice stroll on the narrow streets of the historic heart of Bucharest: the vibrant new "old city center". Scattered among the many new-sprung pubs, bars and restaurants, you will discover a number of heritage monuments such as: Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche) (15th century), Stavropoleos Church (1724), National Bank of Romania building (1880). Return to the hotel.
DAY 2 - ROMANIAN BLACK SEA
After breakfast, leave Bucharest for the seaside. The Romanian Black Sea resorts stretch from Danube Delta in the north down to the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast in the south, along 275 km of coastline. Our accommodation will be located in the most important resort, Mamaia, a popular destination in summertime for both Romanians and foreign tourists. Before reach Mamaia, stop for a wine tasting at one of the most famous vineyards of Romania, Murfatlar. Located between the Danube and the Black Sea, in the center of the Dobrogea Plateau, Murfatlar is blessed with a unique microclimate that tempers excessive heat and frost and produces growing conditions similar to Bordeaux and other well-known wine regions around the world. Fish dishes are going to be your treat for lunch, followed by a relaxing walking tour of the beach. There are shops, bars, cafes and restaurants in any category. Also, there is a telegondola system running parallel with the beach in Mamaia. It is 2000 meters in length, gliding 50 meters above the beach. Dinner at the seaside will complete a perfect day.
DAY 3 - THE DANUBE DELTA - Greek and Genoese heritage
After breakfast, we leave Mamaia resort and head to the Danube Delta natural reserve. With a population of almost 100,000 inhabitants, the administrative center of the Danube Delta region, the city of Tulcea is going to be our basecamp for all the trips into the Danube Delta. Our day combines the cultural heritage of this land with the wild beaches of Gura Portitei. Half an hour driving from Mamaia resort, we discover the ancient Histria or Istros, a Greek colony or polis on the Black Sea coast, created by Milesian settlers for trade purposes with the native Getae. The Histria Museum has on display archaeological evidence such as Attic black-figure pottery, coins, ornamental objects, an Ionian lebes, and many fragments of amphorae. Next stop is our first encounter with the wild Danube Delta. Originally a fishing village, Gura Portiþei is known today as one of the most secluded and quiet Romanian seaside tourist destinations. This place is accessible only by boat, from Jurilovca. On this extremely narrow strip of land, with its shoals and floating islands, there is a pub, a village, and a campsite. As for the other tourists you will meet here, they are a handful sun worshipers lost in this dreamy, lonely place. After lunch, we hit the road once more and head to the Genovese fortress of Enisala. The ruins of the Eraclea or Herkleia medieval fortress in Enisala are located on a limestone hill overlooking Razim Lake and Babadag Lake. Go to Tulcea, walking tour of the city and dinner.
DAY 4 - THE DANUBE DELTA - Visit the northernmost subtropical forest in the world
You cannot leave this stunning place without visiting Letea Forest. Here, you can admire a rich subtropical fauna and, of course, the wild horses. Letea Forest is the northernmost subtropical forest in the world and the only place in Europe where wild vines grow. Along the way, you will have a great view of the wild wetlands dotted with picturesque fishing villages. You will also get a first glimpse at the huge variety of the birdlife here: great white and small egrets, pygmy cormorants, flights of pelicans, hoopoes, white-winged black terns, black-winged stilts, marsh harriers, ferruginous ducks, sometimes even the impressive white-tailed eagle and many more. Letea Forest is home to about 3,600 wild horses, the last remaining horses to roam free on the European continent.Evening dinner on a terrace overlooking the Danube.
DAY 5 - THE DANUBE DELTA - “Infinite” empty beaches
After breakfast, continue to discover the unspoiled natural beauty of the Danube Delta. As you know, the Danube merges into the Black Sea through three branches Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântul Gheorghe (Saint George). For today our proposal is a trip to Saint George, a great place on earth, with it’s “infinite” empty beaches. Saint George is a dead end, where Danube Delta is intertwined with the Black Sea beach and also the place where you can find 4 stars resorts and eat the most varied species of fish cooked in any way. The boat ride to Saint George and back allows us to explore the unknown and wilderness of the delta channels. Near the village of Saint George is the Sacalin Island, an uninhabited island, where you can find the largest colonies of the sandwich tern and Dalmatian Pelican. The island have been reviewed a number of 229 species of birds, rare fish, sturgeon and rare plants such as swamp cabbage large canary. Lunch at the 4 stars resort. Back to our accomodation for some free time and relaxation.
DAY 6 - THE DANUBE DELTA - Best vineyards
In our last day into the Danube Delta, visit a truly wonderful place to relax in the middle of the nature, Cocos monastery, established in 1833. The monastery, was besides the impressive collections of fine and decorative art, archeological finds and old coins, it shelters the bones of the oldest Christian martyrs discovered in Europe (Zotikos, Attalos, Kamasis and Phillipos. After this spiritual encounter go for a wine tasting to Sarica Niculitel winary, our retreat for entire day, surrounded by the oldest mountains of Romania, Macinului mountains. Out of wine tasting, can choose to stroll through Macinului mountains and ride a horse on a circuit of 13 km (with gentle ups and downs, crossing peaks on the southern side of the park dotted with steppe meadows with rocky, providing wide views on Depression Cerna and the other peaks south of Macin Mountains. Lunch and dinner at this location.
DAY 7 - MAMAIA RESORT - Best quality and vibrant atmosphere
We thought that one day on the Mamaia resort beaches is the perfect way to end this tour and therefore have chosen another day for accommodation into. Romanian resorts offer the best quality and the atmosphere is vibrant as you noticed on the second day of the tour. Also, you can choose a gondola ride that runs from one end to another of the resort or you can just enjoy city's main sights: Ovidius Square ( the Roman poet, Publius Ovidius Naso, gives name to this square. Emperor Augustus exiled Ovid to Tomis in 8 AD), the Roman Mosaics ( today, only about a third of the original edifice remains, including more than 9,150 sq ft (850 m2) of colorful mosaics), the Casino (completed between the two World Wars in art nouveau style, the Casino features sumptuous architecture and a wonderful view of the sea), the Genoese Lighthouse (built in 1860 to honor Genoese merchants who established a flourishing sea trade community here in the 13th century), the Great Mahmudiye Mosque (Built in 1910 by King Carol I, the mosque is the seat of the Mufti, the spiritual leader of the 55,000 Muslims (Turks and Tatars by origin) who live along the coast of the Dobrogea region) . For the evening take a walk in Tomis port, recently renovated place and have dinner.
DAY 8 - BUCHAREST - Little Paris
After breakfast, depending of your flight time, return to Bucharest. Transport to the Henri Coanda International Airport.
